SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY HEALTH AGENCY

Public Health Department

2191 Johnson Avenue ▪ P.O. Box 1489
San Luis Obispo, California 93406
805-781-5500 ▪ FAX 805-781-5543
Jeff Hamm
Health Agency Director
Penny Borenstein, M.D., M.P.H.
Health Officer/Public Health Administrator

Health Alert to Schools

April 27, 2009

Swine Influenza

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease which occurs regularly in pigs and is caused by type A
influenza viruses. Currently, one of these viruses has caused human illness in California, other States, and
in other parts of the world, especially Mexico.

There have been no cases of swine flu in San Luis Obispo County at this time.

Symptoms of flu include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or
stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea also can occur.

Who is at risk for having swine flu and should consult their doctor:

Persons with a fever higher than 100 F (37.8 C) and a cough and/or sore throat AND who

• have had contact with a confirmed swine influenza H1N1 case

• are in a high- risk setting for transmission; e.g. school or daycare setting.

• have returned from Mexico within 7 days of illness onset

Infection Control

9 Remind parents and staff that children and employees should stay at home during
their illness, generally 5-7 days for adults, up to 10 days for children

9 Remind children and staff to use soap and water to wash hands when hands are visibly soiled, or an
alcohol-based hand cleaner when soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly soiled.
9 Teach children to wash hands for 15-20 seconds (long enough to sing “Happy Birthday” song twice).
9 Ensure that sink locations and restrooms are stocked with soap, paper towels or working hand dryers.
9 Keep the school environment clean and make sure that supplies are available.
Clean frequently touched surfaces and commonly shared items at least daily and when visibly soiled.
9 Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered household disinfectant labeled for activity
against bacteria and viruses, an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant, or EPA-registered chlorine
bleach/hypochlorite solution. Always follow label instructions when using any EPA-registered
disinfectant. If EPA-registered chlorine bleach is not available and a generic (i.e., store brand)
chlorine bleach is used, mix ¼ cup chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of cool water.
9 Advise children and care providers to cough or sneeze into a shirt sleeve or cover their noses and
mouths with a tissue, and to put used tissue in a waste basket followed by hand cleansing.

Planning for additional cases

o Review district/school plans for responding to a pandemic and make sure

they are up to date.

o Develop and implement a system to track illness and absence due to illness
among children and staff if one is not already in place.

o Consult the Public Health Department when increases in respiratory illness

occur in a school setting.

o Be aware that California guidelines for student dismissal are based upon the
following factors:

For additional information about swine flu, please see:

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine

Call 781-5500 for San Luis Obispo Public Health Department Communicable Disease Program